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Don Bosco Skill Mission, Bengaluru, 21-24, August 2019: Ten Young Priests Fr Salibindla Marreddy, Fr Gandala Simharayalu, Fr Jangala Upendar, Fr Sleevaraju, Fr Jinugu Sagar, Fr Salibindla Sandeep Reddy, Fr Aduri Chinnababu, Fr Boddu Charan, Fr Neelam Naresh, Fr Yeruva Innareddy and Fr Putti Thambi from the Province of St Joseph, Hyderabad, attended a Training Programme in Salesian Youth Ministry at Bengaluru, organized by DBYA – SA (Don Bosco Youth Animation – South Asia), at Don Bosco Skill Mission, Bangalore from August 21-24, 2019. There were 45 priests and a Salesian Brother from Six Provinces who attended a four-day training programme in Youth Ministry, the first of its kind, intended to train young Salesians in Youth Ministry and making them aware of the tenets of the Salesian Youth Spirituality.
The programme included sessions, group sharing, activities and moments of prayer animated by the Salesians from six provinces. Right at the outset, Fr Robert Simon sdb, gave a broad exposure on the trends and the Culture of Young People in Modern India: An Analysis.’ He highlighted the existing trends among the youth and character traits that influence youth by the culture of the times. Fr Maria Charles sdb, animated a session on ‘Encountering Young People-Platforms & Forms of Interventions’. He enlightened the participants by sharing his vast experience in Youth Ministry and shared various types of mind-sets and aspirations of the Young people. He too shared about the draft of the New Education Policy which is in the process of implementation and exhorted to be prepared to face the challenges in store; for, it would indeed affect the entire dynamics of the Catholic Educational Institutions.
In the third session, a theme on ‘A Re-look at Don Bosco: His Predilection & Relevance’ was dealt. Fr John Rosario sdb spoke about Don Bosco’s predilection for the poor and abandoned Young People of Turin, a documentary circumstance and its relevance in today’s time. Fr Rosario continued in the next session on ‘Portraying Don Bosco Today,’ and spoke on various styles that Don Bosco employed in dealing with his boys; styles which included extreme prudence coupled with wit and wisdom. He provoked the participants to introspect on what motivates in dealing with the young.
As the day dawned, Fr Maria Charles expounded on the theme ‘Don Bosco Youth Policy’ carefully detailing its need, relevance and scope. This policy contained a definite identity to the Salesian work in India. After dinner, lighter moments were organized by the priests of the Konkan – Panjim Province animating the participants through action-songs, singing and games.
The rest of the sessions on 22nd and 23rd August were animated by Fr Selva Kumar on “Social Media for Youth Ministry: Encountering the Young in Virtual Space,” Fr Maria Charles on “Developing a Planning Attitude in Youth Ministry,” Fr Sivy Koroth about Salesian Youth Spirituality, Fr Paulraj Amalraj on “Art of Accompanying Young People – Counselling and Vocational Guidance,” Fr Maria Lawrence on “Youth Ministry in Digital Age: tips for work and management,” Fr Selva Kumar on ‘Social Networking’ and Fr Albert Johnson, dwelt upon “Evolving Youth Ministry Structures” in the Salesian mission.
The final session on 24th August, was animated by Fr Robert Simon, in which he asked the participants to “Develop an Oratorian Heart – Salesian Youth Movement.” He began his session with a creative group activity and asked Salesians to think out of the box. He said that it’s a big time for the young priests to evaluate and take necessary measures to evolve in the mission, creating a Youth Space in various sectors and willingness to waste time with the youth to be effective in the ministry.
To sum up four days of learning, it was a wonderful experience as the organizers asked Young Salesians to take three lines of action in their individual youth ministry, at the province level and at the national level. Fr Sandesh Fernandes (INP) expressed his words of gratitude. Fr Maria Charles concluded the programme with a prayer to Mary Help of Christians and asked the Young Salesians to be the agents of change in their own missions.
